WJOL

WJOL
City Joliet, Illinois
Broadcast area Southwest Suburban Chicago
Branding 1340 WJOL
Will County's News, Talk, Sports
Slogan We've Got 'Em Talking!
Frequency 1340 AM (kHz)
First air date May 1925[1]
Format News Talk/Sports
Power 1,000 watts
Class C
Facility ID 62235
Callsign meaning W JOLiet
Former callsigns WJBI (1925)[1]
WCLS (1925-1945)[2]
Former frequencies 1400 kHz (1924-1927)[2]
1390 kHz (1927-1928)[2]
1310 kHz (1928-1941)[2]
Owner Alpha Media
(Alpha Media Licensee LLC)
Sister stations WCCQ, WERV, WKRS, WRXQ, WSSR, WXLC
Webcast Listen live
Website www.wjol.com

WJOL (1340 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news talk/sports format. Licensed to Joliet, Illinois, United States, the station is currently owned by Alpha Media, through licensee Alpha Media Licensee LLC. WJOL carries a variety of local programming, as well as nationally syndicated shows.[3]

History

The station began broadcasting in May 1925, and originally held the call sign WJBI.[1][4][5] The station was originally owned by Harold M. Couch.[1][4][5] Later that year, the station was sold to the parent company of the Boston Store, and its call sign was changed to WCLS, which stood for "Will County's Largest Store".[1][6][7] The station originally broadcast at 1400 kHz, running 150 watts.[2] In 1927, the station's frequency was changed to 1390 kHz.[2] In 1928 its frequency was changed to 1310 kHz, and its power was reduced to 100 watts.[2] The station operated a limited number of hours, and shared time on its frequency with other stations.[2]

In 1940, the station began operating 24 hours a day.[2] In 1941, the station's frequency was changed to 1340 kHz, and its power was increased to 250 watts.[2] In 1945, the station's call sign was changed to WJOL.[2] In 1962, the station's daytime power was increased to 1,000 watts.[2] In the early 1960s, the station published a local top 50 record chart.[8] In 1985, the station's nighttime power was increased to 1,000 watts.[9]

WJOL alumni

Notable radio personalities that have worked at WJOL include Frank O'Leary, Don Ladas, Bill Drilling, Art Hellyer, Bob Zak, Don Beno, Tony Ray, Ralph Sherman, Sr., Jerry Halasz, Max Carey, and Bob Wheeler.

From 1947-1950, novelist William Johnston worked as a news reporter for WJOL.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 157-163.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 History Cards for WJOL, fcc.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  3. ↑ Show Schedule, WJOL. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Radio Progress. August 15, 1925. p. 40. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Radio Age. August 1925. p. 100. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ Citizen's Radio Callbook: A Complete Radio Cyclopedia. Vol. 6. No. 2. Fall 1925. p. 16. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ Duston, Merle (1927). Duston's Radio Log and Call Book With Program Directory, Whitman Publishing Company. p. 11. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Joliet's Fantabulous Fifty", WJOL. March 30, 1963. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  9. ↑ Zorn, Eric. "Rumors Persist: WMET Will Change Its Format", Chicago Tribune, January 07, 1985. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  10. ↑ "William Johnston". Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale. 2002. Retrieved 25 August 2015.

Coordinates: 41°32′06″N 88°03′15″W / 41.53500°N 88.05417°W / 41.53500; -88.05417

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